Community Building for 1000 Jews & Muslims 2016-18

Summary

Bringing together neighboring school communities of Jews & Muslims in the Upper Galilee, first time in their lives, for on-going deep and positive interaction. Citizens are empowered to actively shape their society through actually practicing it, with guidance from the Interfaith Encounter Association.

Challenge

This project addresses the Jewish-Muslim coexistence challenge in the Galilee. The existing ignorance of 'the other', enabling prejudices and fears, makes conflicts possible. Participants from neighboring communities, engaged in on-going deep and positive interaction self-educate to replace negative attitudes by mutual understanding, respect and trust. The group develops into a "mini-community" modeling the desired inter-communal relations, growing gradually to include the larger communities.

Solution

We bring together educators, students and parents, from Jewish and Muslim schools, for exchange around issues of their religious traditions. This ensures safe, deep and positive interaction, which reveals similarities and enable constructive acknowledgement of differences, thus creating strong and lasting bonds between Jewish and Muslim communities.

Long-Term Impact

The project creates an ongoing joint community of 1,000 Jews and Muslims. Thanks to working through schools that include people from all parts of society. This group works to generate the transformation of the 70,000 people of their larger communities - the Jewish town of Karmiel and the Muslim town of Majd el-Krum.

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